Track History & Facts About the Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is right around the corner, and it signifies an end to the five weeks of racing that brings you the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes as the first two legs of the Triple Crown. There have only been 13 horses to win the Triple Crown.  Justify completed the feat last year after American Pharoah broke a 37-year drought in 2015.

This year we get the rare chance to potentially see history again with the odds-on favorite Justify having already won the first two legs of the Triple Crown.  Besides that exciting possibility, there are plenty of other interesting things that go along with this historic race. Here is a look at some facts about past Belmont Stakes, as well as this year’s edition.

Race Track Location, Date, Time & Length

Location – Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

Date –Saturday, June 8th

Distance – 1 ½ mile dirt track

Horses – 3-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings

TV & Post Time – 6:48 PM ET on NBC

Race – 151st running, first ran in 1867, oldest of the Triple Crown races

Nickname – “Test of the Champions” and “Run for the Carnations”

Stretch Run – 1,097 feet from last turn to finish line

Crowd – Belmont Park can hold 90,000 fans including the infield, with seating for 32,941

Fastest Time – 2:24:00 held be Secretariat in 1973 (World Record for 1 ½ mile on dirt)

Biggest Win – 31 lengths held by Secretariat in 1973 (World Record for 1 ½ mile)

Last Years Champion – Tapwrit

Prize Money – $1,500,000 ($800,000 to the winner)

Interesting & Fun Facts About the Belmont Stakes

• The first Belmont Stakes race was held in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx, where Ruthless took home the first ever win. In 1890, the race moved to Morris Park Racecourse before making its permanent home at Belmont Park in 1905. The race did take a short break for reconstruction as it was held at the Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963-1967.
• There are 13 trainers that have at least three wins at the Belmont, and none more than the 8 held by James G. Rowe Sr. While Rowe holds the top spot, Woody Stephens has some bragging rights of his own as he produced five straight wins here from 1982-1986.  Hall of Famers Nick Zito and D. Wayne Lukas have sent out the most Belmont starters (34).  Most recently, Tapwrit’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, notched his third Belmont Stakes win in 2017.
• There have only been nine jockeys to win at least three times and two guys hold the top spot.  Both Jim McLaughlin and Eddie Arcarco each have six wins.
• There have been nine foreign-born winners at the Belmont Stakes, with the last coming when Victory Gallop (1998) out of Canada was the first to cross the finish line.
• The race used to be even longer as it was run at 1 5/8 miles up until 1973, before being shortened to its 1 ½ distance it is run at today.
• Julie Krone became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she rode Colonial Affair to a win at the Belmont Stakes in 1993.

Trophy

The Belmont Stakes trophy is a Tiffany-made silver bowl measuring 18 inches high, 15 inches across and 14 inches at the base. A silver figure of Fenian, winner of the Belmont Stakes in 1869, sits atop the cover of the bowl, and the bowl itself is supported by three horses representing the three foundation Thoroughbreds; Eclipse, Herod and Matchem.

Post Race Traditions & Song

This is when the trophy is presented and when fans are encouraged to sing along to the theme from New York, New York. This is very similar to the singing of “Old Kentucky Home” at the Kentucky Derby and “Maryland, My Maryland” at the Preakness Stakes.  The winning horse is also draped in carnations, which explains the nickname “Run for the Carnations”.